Weekend ferry service ridership from Downtown Jersey City to Lower Manhattan almost doubled from last week. The service is an alternate route while PATH service at Exchange Place and the World Trade Center are closed.John Munson/The Star-Ledger

Ridership almost doubled for the weekend ferry service that helps get PATH riders from Downtown Jersey City to Lower Manhattan while the Exchange Place and World Trade Center stations are closed.

Last weekend, the discounted ferry saw 7,983 passengers, about equally split between Saturday and Sunday.

The Port Authority has shut down the two PATH stations for most weekends this year and possibly into 2015.

The bi-state agency says the closures provide “critical time” for it to implement a federally mandated safety system and to complete repairs from Hurricane Sandy.

Though the ferry doesn’t exactly replicate the PATH line — since the Exchange Place station is closed, PATH riders have to get off at Grove Street and walk about a mile to the Paulus Hook ferry terminal — riders have so far given the service positive reviews.

Last weekend was the second in a six-week pilot program intended to gauge interest.

According to the Port Authority, 4,112 riders took the ferry on Saturday and 3,871 rode it on Sunday.

Downtown City Councilwoman Candice Osborne, who helped arrange the pilot program, has urged her supporters to take the ferry, arguing that it would be easier to convince the Port Authority to continue the service if ridership is high.